Things that have helped me in my recovery
A series of responses submitted by the recovery community in Essex
This article was written by Dan
“Practicing self care has helped me significantly in my recovery. Whilst in treatment at SHARP Braintree once a week included in the program was a yoga session with Lisa - I used to love the feeling of relaxing on the yoga mat and zoning out from the washing machine head and taking in noises from out side, such as the weather, birds tweeting, and the town centre clock chiming on the hour - I never wanted the session to end as I really felt that my body was recharging and at peace. Because I enjoyed the yoga sessions so much I purchased a yoga mat for home and started to use an app that I try to tell everyone about which is called Insight Timer. There is something like 200,000 tracks for free which help improve important things to make you feel better like your sleep and breathing - there’s a lot more to do on the app like, meditation, journaling and check-ins.
Getting plenty of sleep is a priority for me and apps like Insight Timer really do help with this. I’m partial to an afternoon nap these days too - if time allows, I feel that if my body tells me to rest then I should listen even if it’s a short nap of something like 30 minutes.
Part of my self care has been about eating properly. I regularly eat a good mix of fruit and vegetables. I bought a soup maker early on in my recovery and found it quite cheap to make good homemade soup, Lidl often have mix boxes of vegetables cheaply priced at the till and it’s surprisingly what adding a couple of stock cubes can produce!
Regular exercise is a winner for my self care, particularly if the old washing head is on a full spin! Exercise for me includes regularly paddle boarding, I’ve joined a couple of free social groups on Facebook who put on social meets, Sober Essex have done some paddle board socials too, so if you are looking to get involved you will find that group on Facebook . I also enjoy walking and scrambling, something I’m trying to do more and more of in Wales and will also be joining the Essex Recovery Foundation’s Ultra Challenge events.
And lastly, attending any type of mutual help meeting has been key to my recovery and self care routine - whether that be a fellowship meeting, or attending one the Essex Recovery Foundation’s Talk & Walk events - I feel like nobody gets me like someone else who suffers with addiction so it’s important for me to be around other positive people and to talk about our similarities and share ideas about moving forward in recovery.
I hope you’ve found some of what I have shared helpful to read”
